Mice are one of the most common household pests in the Treasure Valley, and they can enter a home through openings as small as 1/4 inch. Once inside, they chew wiring, contaminate food, damage insulation, and reproduce quickly—turning a small problem into a costly infestation in just a few weeks.
Most homeowners don’t actually see mice at first. Instead, they notice subtle early warning signs. Knowing what to look for can help you detect an infestation before it spreads.
How to Tell If You Have a Mouse Infestation
Mice are experts at staying hidden, but they leave behind clear indicators of activity. The most reliable signs include:
1. Droppings
Mouse droppings are one of the first and most common signs. They are:
- Small (1/8–1/4 inch), dark, and pointed at both ends
- Often found along baseboards, inside cabinets, pantries, garages, and under sinks
- Typically scattered in clusters near food sources or travel routes
Fresh droppings are soft and dark; older droppings become gray and crumbly.
2. Urine Trails & Odor
Mice use urine to mark territory and communicate. Heavy activity often creates a musty or ammonia-like smell. In dusty areas, UV light may reveal faint streaks along common pathways.
3. Gnaw Marks
Mice must chew constantly to keep their teeth trimmed. Signs include:
- Gnawed food packaging (cardboard, plastic, or paper bags)
- Bite marks on wood, insulation, or stored items
- Chewed wiring, which can create fire hazards
Clean edges suggest recent activity; rough, worn edges may be older.
4. Scratching or Scurrying Sounds
If you hear light scratching behind walls, in ceilings, or under floors—especially at night—there is a strong chance mice are nesting nearby.
5. Nesting Materials
Mice shred paper, fabric, insulation, pet bedding, and other soft materials to create nests. Nests are frequently found near heat sources or in quiet, sheltered spaces like:
- Attics
- Basements
- Garages
- Behind appliances
- Inside wall voids
6. Tracks & Grease Marks
Mice follow the same routes repeatedly, leaving faint trails along walls. Grease marks, dust imprints, or smudges often appear where their bodies brush surfaces.
Where Mice Hide Inside Your Home
Mice choose nesting areas based on warmth, safety, and access to food. Inside Boise-area homes, mice commonly live in:
- Pantries and kitchen cabinets
- Attics and insulation voids
- Basements and crawl spaces
- Garage storage areas
- Inside wall voids accessed through small gaps
Mice can survive on crumbs alone and need very little water. This means even minor food spills or poorly sealed pantry items can support a growing population.
Once established, mice may also attract other pests like ants and cockroaches due to the food debris and nesting materials they leave behind.
What Damage Can Mice Cause?
Mice are destructive and can create significant problems for homeowners, including:
- Chewed electrical wiring—a major fire risk
- Damaged insulation from tunneling and nesting
- Contaminated food through droppings and urine
- Structural damage from gnawing wood and drywall
- Strong odors caused by urine buildup or dead rodents
Mice can also carry bacteria, allergens, and parasites. While rare, they may transmit diseases through droppings or contaminated surfaces.
How to Get Rid of Mice
Because mice reproduce rapidly—up to 60 offspring per year—early intervention is essential. Here are the most effective steps homeowners can take:
1. Seal Entry Points
Inspect your home for openings around:
- Foundations and siding gaps
- Door sweeps
- Utility and pipe penetrations
- Attic or crawl space vents
Use steel wool, hardware cloth, or rodent-proof sealants—mice cannot chew through metal barriers.
2. Eliminate Food Sources
- Store pantry items in airtight containers
- Clean crumbs from counters, floors, and under appliances
- Keep pet food sealed and avoid leaving food out overnight
- Empty trash regularly and use cans with tight-fitting lids
3. Improve Sanitation & Reduce Clutter
Mice thrive in cluttered areas where they can nest undisturbed. Keep garages, basements, and storage rooms organized and clean to limit hiding places.
4. Use Traps Properly
Snap traps, multi-catch traps, and bait placements can be effective when positioned correctly along walls and travel routes. Homeowners must use caution with pets and children in the home.
5. Call a Professional for Recurring or Large Infestations
If you are seeing multiple signs of activity, hearing noises inside walls, or finding droppings in several areas of the home, professional rodent control is the safest and most effective solution. Pestcom technicians can:
- Identify all active entry points
- Remove existing mice
- Install exclusion materials to prevent re-entry
- Set up monitoring and ongoing protection
Because mice do not hibernate, infestations continue year-round in Idaho. The sooner you act, the less damage they can cause to your home and belongings.
For expert help with rodent control and prevention, contact Pestcom Pest Management today.